JUDITH. Wilt thou listen?
OZIAS. I hear.
JUDITH. With this greatness of thine goes deceit and laxity of mind.
OZIAS. Yet when thou didst thy mighty deed didst thou not deceive cruelly?
JUDITH. I deceived not for myself, but for Israel; and my guile was for the glory of God. But thy heart is set only upon advancement and power, which is corruption.
OZIAS. Judith, canst thou not lift thy thoughts beyond good and evil, and canst thou not contemplate the marvellous greatness of man? I will abase myself before none but thee, and in my ear there is no commandment but thine; and all other decrees will I mock. I would have thee in marriage, and I would have no other but thee. Wilt thou take me to thee, and wilt thou yield thyself without fear to the terrible flame of my love? For thus shalt thou fulfil thyself and me. But give heed before thou answerest, and know that if thou turnest from me, I will make all the nations of the earth to tremble with my fury.
JUDITH. Thou art great also in thy loving.
OZIAS. Once thou didst love me.
JUDITH. Nay! I but looked upon thee in kindness. But now I will not go to thee in marriage.
OZIAS (half admiring). Thou art not then afraid of my wrath!